Performance by RTE
in various Irish referendums

(General)


Table showing allocation of free broadcasts by RTE in various Irish referendums

Based on Table prepared by Mr Anthony Coughlan

Year
Referendum
Political Parties
 Y N
Non-Party Campaigns
 Y N
1983 Abortion 
 amendment
3 Parties
 		  ?  ?
1 Yes group, 1 No group 
2 broadcasts each

"Accidental" repeat
 2

  ?
 2

 ?
1984 Voting rights for 
 non-citizens		 No broadcasts No broadcasts
1986 Divorce 3 Parties:
 		  ?  ? No broadcasts
1987 Single European 
         Act
5 parties; 4 Yes, 1 No
2 broadcasts each party
Total broadcasts: 8 Yes v 2 No
 		  8  2 No broadcasts
(though active groups
existed on each side)
1992 Maastricht
5 parties; 4 Yes, 1 No
2 broadcasts each party
Total  broadcasts: 8 Yes v 2 No
 		  8  2 No broadcasts
(though active groups
existed on each side)
1992 Abortion, Travel,
 Information		 No broadcasts
No broadcasts
(though active groups
existed on each side)
 
1995 Divorce 5 parties: 5 Yes (Note 1)
2 broadcasts each party
Total broadcasts: 10 Yes v nil No or 30 minutes for Yes

10
 
(30
min)
 0
--		 2 Yes groups
2 No groups
2 broadcasts each
Total broadcasts: 4 Yes v 4 No
 
 

Accidental repeat (Note 2)
 
 

   4

(10
 min)
 

(2.5
 min)
 

   4

(10
min)
1996 Bail
5 Parties: 5 Yes (Note 3)
2 broadcasts each
Total broadcasts: 10 Yes v nil No		 10 --
1 No group
4 broadcasts
Total broadcasts: Nil Yes v 4 No		 --   4
1997 Cabinet
 Confidentiality		 No broadcasts No broadcasts
1998 Good Friday/
 Amsterdam		 No broadcasts No broadcasts
1999 Local Government No broadcasts No broadcasts
Notes added by Editor:

1. One political party only, Muintir na hÉireann, was the only party to oppose the Divorce referendum, as a political party.  Both uncontested and contested airtime were refused, apart from a 6 minute interview on the day before a High Court challenge.  RTE's decision was upheld by  Judge Laffoy in the High Court, on the grounds that "it was not a matter to be fought in the heat of battle".

RTE successfully contended in another High Court case 3 days later that its policy in favouring the political parties, as against non-party opponents of Divorce for uncontested broadcasts, was "in advancement of the political process".  "The question of equity was at the heart of RTE's even-handed approach to the Divorce referendum and is, in our view, in full harmony with both the letter and the spirit of the Broadcasting Acts." (RTE).

2.  The repeat was stated by RTE to have been "entirely accidental".  Any attempt to address the matter by way of a broadcast from the other side "would have compounded the problem", RTE said.

A similar "accidental" repeat occurred during the 1983 Abortion Amendment campaign.

3.  Two political parties only, the Green Party and Muintir na hÉireann, opposed the Bail referendum.  Both were denied access to uncontested political party broadcasts, while Muintir na hÉireann was denied access also to contested air-time.

End

 
IMR Comment:

The above table clearly shows RTE's disregard for the requirements of the Broadcasting Act, which requires that the broadcast treatment of current affairs is fair.. and is presented in an objective and impartial manner.

This is particularly evident in the case of the Single European Act, Maastrict, Divorce, and Bail referendums. 

As noted elsewhere on this site, the Supreme court found RTE guilty of "interference with the referendum process".

However, there are no sanctions for breaches of the Broadcasting Act.  Therefore, RTE broke the law, got what they wanted, and there are no consequences.

End

30 April 2001